Graduation

Prices will be confirmed in due course. Various packages/bundles will be made available from our external supplier. Please keep an eye out for further information via email. 

It is compulsory that all students who are taking part in the graduation ceremony wear an official gown. Gowns must be hired from the college’s recommended gown hire company to ensure the correct colour and style for your course is ordered. 

After you have registered, you will be sent details of gown hire costs and how to hire your gown. There are various packages/ bundles available for purchase which will be communicated to you directly from the gowning company.

Your graduation is a formal occasion, appropriate dress and behaviour is expected. Graduates and guests should wear smart clothes. Our gowning company recommends that men wear a shirt and tie, and women wear a top with buttons (or a brooch) as it is easier to secure your hood by looping it around a button/brooch.

Your gown will be available to pick up on the day of your ceremony from the Ramside Hall. If you have ordered your gown online, please bring your email payment confirmation with you on the day. 

You cannot leave Ramside Hall with your gown and must return it to the gowning area as promptly as possible after your ceremony and reception.

Prices will be confirmed in due course. Various packages/bundles will be made available from our external supplier. Please keep an eye out for further information via email. 

A professional photographer will be available on the day at Ramside Hall. Once you have registered you will be sent a link to confirm your photography and gown package. The arrangements for photography will be dealt with, and communicated to you, directly from William Northam – the company we use for photography and gowning.

William Northam will be available for studio photography after your ceremony has taken place.

An additional award presentation photograph of you receiving your scroll on the stage is also taken. You will be emailed additional instructions for purchasing this.

Guests may take photographs during the ceremony, but must remain in their seats. We also ask graduands and their guests to consider others when taking photographs. Following the ceremony, guests and graduates are welcome to take photos.

Guest tickets will be available to purchase via our online booking system once they are available and you will receive updates regarding purchasing guest tickets following your registration for the event.

Graduates registering before the closing date will receive an email when the tickets are available to purchase, which will also give details of the number of tickets available to purchase initially per graduate. 

Dependent upon numbers registered for the ceremony, we may be able to release additional tickets after everyone has had the chance to buy their initial tickets.  You will be notified of the availability of tickets via email and text message.

Please note, we will not be responding to any requests for additional guest tickets.

Please note students who are graduating do not need a ticket for themselves.

On the day, guests need to arrive for your ceremony with their tickets readily available to scan, either printed or on a mobile device. Guests will not be permitted to enter without a valid ticket.

Refunds for guest tickets will only be given to those who failed to successfully complete their course.

No, students who are graduating do not need a ticket for themselves.

If any of your guests have special requirements (including accessibility) this should be indicated when purchasing guest tickets.

If you submit a special requirement, you will receive an email to confirm that your guest party will have reserved seating in the ceremony.

The whole graduation event takes place on the ground floor and all areas are easily accessible via ramps for guests with mobility difficulties.

There are designated accessible parking bays near the event entrance at Ramside Hall.

Children are welcome to attend your graduation, however, any child over two years old should have his/her own seat and therefore will need a full priced ticket.

Children under the age of 2 without their own ticket will need to be seated on an adult’s knee in your guest party. Pushchairs/prams/baby car seats must be left outside the event venue for health and safety reasons. 

Please arrive an hour and a half before the start of your ceremony. It is essential that you check in on arrival.

You will receive a queuing order number ticket for your student procession - you must keep this.

Guests will not be permitted into the registration or gowning areas. If you arrive with your guests, they will be directed to the reception area where refreshments can be purchased. 

Once you have checked in, you will go to the gowning area to collect your gown.

After gowning you head to the meeting area to line up for the student procession. Guests are already seated in the hall.

At time of ceremony, the VIP party followed by staff procession enter the hall.

Once they are seated, the student procession will enter the hall in a specific order, led by your Head of School where you will be shown to your seat. You must stay in the order you are given, as that is the order you will be called up to the stage. 

The VIP party will proceed to the stage and deliver welcoming speeches.

Once ready the Chair of the ceremony will invite the principal guest to undertake the presentation of degrees and diplomas. You will be directed to stand up one row at a time by attending staff and you will line up ready to go up onto the stage.

When your name is announced, you will walk slowly onto the stage and meet the principal guest who will shake your hand and present you with your scroll. You will pause at this point while a photographer takes a photo of you receiving your scroll (you will be emailed information about purchasing this photo).

After this, you will continue to walk over to the other side of the stage and then return to your seat. Students selected for the vote of thanks will be contacted closer to the time with more information and guidance.

On completion of the ceremony, the VIP party will leave, followed by graduates and guests.

After the ceremony, a reception will take place in the main ballroom, which you and your ticketed guests are very welcome to attend.

Refreshments will be available to purchase throughout the day.